Loulou Tielman

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Loulou Tielman was the drummer of the Tielman Brothers, the first Indo-Dutch band to break through internationally. He was one of the children of Herman Tielman, who came from Kupang on the island of Timor, and Flora Lorine Hess. Together with his brothers Andy, vocals and guitar, Reggy, guitar, and Ponthon, bass, he had already performed in Indonesia, under the names Timor Brothers and The Four T's. In the mid-1950s the family came to the Netherlands. They settled first in Breda and later in The Hague.

Music and breakthrough

The brothers stood out for their wild performances. They threw guitars to one another and played the bass with their teeth. At the 1958 World's Fair in Brussels they were allowed to step in briefly between the sets of a Hawaiian band, and they made such an impression that they were asked to play clubs in Germany, including on the Reeperbahn in Hamburg. In that same year Rock Little Baby of Mine was released, which is regarded as the first Dutch rock 'n' roll single. In Germany the Tielman Brothers became one of the most popular live acts; in the Netherlands they received far less attention. Their biggest Dutch hit came only in 1967, with Little Bird.

Influence

The Tielman Brothers were at the origin of indorock, a blend of Western rock 'n' roll and Indonesian music. In their wake many other Indo bands moved to Germany. Later the family left for Australia. Loulou Tielman died in 1994.

Listening

In School of Rock

The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.

• Mixtape 11: Nederpop^NL Reader